In this post, I’ll walk you through the story behind this project, why it was created, how it works, and why further development is paused at this time. In this project I attempted to test a fresh way of connecting with new friends or professional contacts and tried to provide a safe, innovative platform for exchanging phone numbers for friendship, dating, or business networking! I’ll walk you through the inspiration behind the project, the development process, and lessons learned.
What Inspired smsBZ?
The idea for smsBZ was born out of a previous project that surprisingly attracted a steady stream of unique visitors—even without any marketing effort. While my earlier website was built in just a few hours, it faced two major issues:
- Legal challenges regarding user data and privacy
- Difficulty verifying the authenticity of phone numbers
Learning from these challenges, I decided to refine the concept and build a more secure platform. smsBZ is designed to ensure safe and verified phone number exchanges while catering to a genuine demand from users.
Developing the Minimum Viable Product (MVP)
At the core of my approach is the Minimum Viable Product (MVP) concept—a key principle of the Lean Startup methodology. An MVP is a simplified version of a product that allows you to:
- Showcase the basic functionality of your idea
- Gather user feedback before investing further
- Iterate and improve based on real-world usage
Many successful companies like Dropbox, Groupon, Zappos, and Airbnb started with an MVP, and smsBZ is followed those innovative footsteps.
How Does smsBZ Work?
Using smsBZ is straightforward and user-friendly. Here’s how you can get started:
- Visit the website: Open your browser and type smsbz.com.
- Create an Account: Click the “Login with Google” button and fill out a short registration form if you’re a new user.
- Verify Your Phone Number: Enter your phone number, receive an SMS with a verification code, and complete the verification process to activate your profile.
- Connect with Others: Browse verified profiles and send a request to exchange phone numbers. A successful exchange means you can start chatting or calling directly.
This process ensures that every user on smsBZ is verified, creating a secure environment for networking and building new connections.
The Technology Behind smsBZ
smsBZ is built on the powerful and scalable MERN stack, which includes:
- MongoDB: For storing user data and profile information.
- Express: For creating robust backend APIs and handling routing.
- React: For building a dynamic and responsive user interface.
- Node.js: For running JavaScript on the server and streamlining development.
In addition to these core technologies, smsBZ integrates external services like Google OAuth for authentication and an SMS provider to send verification codes. This tech stack not only makes the application fast and scalable but also ensures that the front end and back end communicate effectively through secure HTTP requests and JSON data exchanges.
Why I Created smsBZ
smsBZ combines practical demand with a passion for hands-on learning. Specifically:
- Validation: My previous site’s success proved there’s a genuine need for this platform.
- MERN Stack Mastery: Building smsBZ helps me sharpen my skills and document the process for teaching others.
- Showcasing Real Projects: This platform becomes a real-world example for my tutorials, benefitting fellow developers.
Monetization and Future Plans
While the primary focus of smsBZ is to deliver real value through a secure phone number exchange, there are several potential monetization streams on the horizon:
- Advertisement: Allowing relevant advertisers to display ads on the platform.
- Premium Features: Offering value-added services like profile boosting or additional perks for a fee.
Why Is Further Development Paused?
I’m confident there’s a strong demand for this idea, as it’s already been validated. However, additional funding and time are required to move forward, so I’ve decided to temporarily pause development until the timing is right. I’m currently looking for a sponsor, a co-founder, or a dedicated team to help bring this project to its full potential.
If you’re interested in this project, please reach out—I’d be happy to discuss possible collaborations.